This is the third acquisition in four months as Azets continues to deliver on its ambitious growth plans.

Tait Walker reported annual fee income of £13m and has around 4,000 clients. The acquisition will see 170 staff join Azets, including 12 partners.

The firm was established in 1937 and has five offices across the north east and Cumbria – headquartered in Gosforth (Newcastle), with offices in Stockton (Tees Valley), Morpeth, Durham and Carlisle.

The acquisition takes Azets’ UK regional network to 84 offices and enhances the UK Top 10 accounting firm’s key service lines including accounting, audit and assurance, tax, data analytics, corporate finance, and payroll services.

Tait Walker also provides a wealth management service, authorised to provide regulated activities by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which expands Azets’ UK wealth management service into the north for the first time, extending its successful business in the south.